Cutting chain



Feb'ZO, 1923. 1,446,191 N. D. LEVIN CUTTING CHAIN Filed June '4, 1920 L"W 44 4 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1923.

PATENT OFFICE.

NILS 1). EV N, or cono vinus, onio assrenon rojrnn JEFFREY,MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or COLUMBUS, onro, A conronnrron or o-nm""CUTT'ING cn'ain.

Application filed'June 4,

To all whom it may concernr I 9 a 1 Be it knownthatl, NILsD. LEVIN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county ofFranklin'and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cutting Chains, of which the following isaspecificatio'n, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawingi The present. invention relatesto certain new and usefulimprovements in cutting chains for coal mining and other machines.

1 The, espeoialobject of this invention is to provide a chain of strongand simple construction con'iprising means form securely holding therenewable cutter bits during operationo-l the machine whichwill permit.of expeditious and convenient replacement and adjustment of said bits. 1

The means by which I attain'this object are fully set forthiuthefollowing specifi-. cation and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsof which 1 1 1 Fig. l isaside elevation of a portion of a, chainembodying my invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly inlsectionof one of the linksshown in Fig.1., y 1 Fig.1 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lineIIIIII,of Fig 21, y 1 Fig. 4 is a transverse sect-ionalview taken alongthe line IVIV of Fig. 1 showing the relation of the chain parts to theguide members of a mining machine cutter arm of wel known construction.i v 1 Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several, figures. 1 ,1a V In the mining of coal, as commonly practiced,kerfs are, cut in thecoal bodyto permit a sufficient distortion of the material adjacent saidkerfs to dislodge fragments for transportation from the mine. Themachines most commonly used for the formation of said kerfs are providedwith cutting tools removably attached to suitable chains by the movementof which said tools are forced into the coalto cut it. Tools so usedbecome dull, requiring renewals which occasion interruption of theoperation of the machine, at more or less frequent intervals dependingupon the character of the material being mined. I am aware that. manydevices have been proposed for attaching the cutter bits to miningmachinechains which, while securely holding them in correct positiondur- 1920. serial-No. 386,479.

ing operation, will permit their quick and easy replacement andadjustment.- However all such devices with whichl am familiar possesscertain inherent defectswhich it is the objectof the present inventionto overcome." 1 1 1 1 In thedrawings I have illustrated a mining machine1 chain comprising a series of block links 1 connected by strap links 2and pintles 3. The chain thus formed is adapted to slideupon the edgeof'the cutter bar 4 between the side plates 5 which are provided withhardened steel renewable guide bars 6. Formed on each of the links 1 and2 arelaterally exteudingflanges 7 which engage the inner-edges of theguide bar 6 to prevent accidental displacement of the chain.- Formedoneach of the block links 1 is an .upwardly projecting extension ,8 havingan aperture 9 in which is slidably mount ed a renewable cutter-bit 10.The bit-1O is formed with astraightshank 11 ofsuch shape and proportionsas to forma snug sliding fit with the sides of the aperture 9.,

Formed in theextension 8, and extending longitudinally forward from rthe aperture 9, is a slot 12in which is'mounteda locking cam 13. The cam13 is rotatable about a transversepivot pin l l vand, is so formed thatwhen rotated to cause its rearward side to move inwardly of. the chainit will engage the bit, shank 11 and press it against the rearwardsurface of the aperture 9 to frictionally grip the bit 10 againstmovement relative to the blocklink 1. Formed on the cam 13 are twooppositely disposed faces 15 and 16 adapted to be struck by aninwardblow of a hammer, or other suitable tool, to

cause the rotation of the cam about. its pivot 1 pin 14. When the cutterbit 10 has been placed in the desired position of adjustment the cam18may beflrotatedinto contact with the shank 11 and, by a light stroke ofa suitable hammerupon the face 15, driven into forcible'engagementtherewith to pro duce a. wedgi'ng action which securely grips the bitshank against movement relative to the block link 1. The form andlocation of the cam 13 cause it to co-operate with the tendency todownward movement of the bit thereby increasing its gripping effect asthe working pressure upon the bit increases. When it is desired toremove or adjust the bit 10 a light stroke of the hammer upon. the

surface 16 is sufficient to rotate the cam in the bitreleasing.directiomand permit free movement'of'the bit longitudinally ofthe aperture 9.

WVhen a cutter chain is associated with the cutter bar of a miningmachine, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the guide plates 0 completely enclosethe chain parts with the exceptingconvenient adjustment-of the chain insubstantially all positions of its path of travel. This increasedfacility with which thebits may be adjusted in all positions of thechain greatly increases the efliciency of operation of the miningmachine.-

What I claim is: a 1 1. In a chain of the class described, the

combination with a block link, an aperture in the block, a cutter toolhaving a shank longitudinally slidable in'said aperture, and a rotatablecam adapted to 'engage-said shank to'clamp said tool in any preferredposition .of adjustment.

JIn a chain'ofthe class describedQthe combination with a block link, anaperture in the block, a cutter tool having a shank longitudinallyadjustable in said aperture, and a rotatable cam mounted forwardly ofsaid aperture and adapted to engage said shank tolock said tool inadjusted position.

3. In achain of the class described, the combination with a block link,an aperture in the block, a cutter tool having'a shanklon gitudinallyslidable in said aperture, a cam mounted in said block at the forwardside of I said aperture to contact therewith and so shaped that thenormal working pressure upon the bit tendsto rotate the cam in a vdirectionto lock said bit in adjusted posi tion.

, 4,. In a chain of the class described, the combination with a blocklink, an aperture in the block, a cutter tool having a shanklongitudinally slidable in said aperture, and a rotatableniember adaptedto frictionally engage said shank to hold said tool in adj ustedposition.

5. In afchain of the class described, the combination with a block link,an aperture in the block, a cutter tool having a shanklongitudinallyslidable in said aperture, and a rotatable-member mountedin said block at the forward side of said aperture to frictionallyengage said shank and so shaped thatthe normal working pressure uponsaid bit tends to increase the frictional resistance to movementof saidtools' relative to said links. a I 1 7. In a chain of the classdescribed, the combination with a block link, an aperture in the block,a cutter tool having a shank longitudinally slidable in said aperture, arotatable cam adapted to be forced into engagement with said shank toclamp said tool in adjusted position, and means tor'otate said cam 3 18. In a chain of the class described, the

combination with a .block link, an aperture .in the block, a cutter toolhaving a shank longitudinally slidable in saidaperture, a

rotatable cani adapted to engage said shank,

and oppositely disposed faces formed on said cam and adapted to bestruck to cause rotation of said cam. i j

9. In a tool holder of the class described, the combination with abody,an aperture in said body, a tool havinga-shank longitudinallyslidable in'said aperture, a rotatable grip mounted on said bodyadjacent said aperture and so disposed'that'pressure on said toolinwardly of said aperture tends to tightensaid grip upon said shank.

' 10. In a tool holder of the class described,

the combination with a body, an aperture in saidbody', a tool having ashank longitudinally slidablein said aperture, a, gripping membermounted on said body adjacent said aperture and so disposed thatpressure'on said tool inwardly of said aperture tends to tighten saidgrip upon said shank. I

"In testimony whereof, I aflixmy signature.

NILS Dj LE IN. v

